Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-03-06

rose dressed to receive visitors or {
sAAAy torth on calling expedition a
\ . H0t considered proper for ladies 8
- seen y the streets alone, q servan
accompanies her. fwho remains in Ii
p9tso gossiping with other servant
while she visits inSidetor she sends 70
Two o. three female friends 10 ioin d
the afternoon 3 advertisement.
When beTy Of bareheaded Mexican
ladies come trailing into the sala d
recloos treeeption room1 We notice tia
mere are seldom any skirts cut IN tn
style called T" walking length, I" which
here are considered decidedly inmod
est, nor ugly hats or bonnets. but ever
dress sweeps softly along the floor, ant
All heads are enyeloped either in tn
lace mantllla Of Spain or thu reboso o
Mexico With many adectionate en-
braces and SOLICITORS inauiFies -suef
a. How are you - How did yor
{ pass the night 2''-the hostess conduct,
them 70 the circle Of chairs az the fal
end Of the room, where they settle
themselves ike q flock Of cOOina
doves. And then such q chatterine a
I enSuesl
Smoking Is not now INDUCED In by
the creme de la creme Of Mexican so
eiety, but the custom still prevails
among ladies not strictly Of the uppeH
strata. Among the middle class and
those lower in the social scale nearly
every lady's pocket is supplied with 4
cigarette holder Of more or less eie-
gance, toften Of solid silver) q box Of
the incompatible Mexican matches,
and sometimes With a package OF rice
paper or a quantity Of prepared corn
husks, II she Is esthetic enough 70 pre-
fer doing her own rolling. In many
houses cigarette cases are at once pro-
duced at their afternoon gatherings,
and lights are exchanged with
great politeness; then, while the at
mOsphere grows blue and bluer, the
fair ones proceed to discuss between
DAINTY PuFFs
All the affairs OF this mundane sphere.
at least 30 far as their knowIedge
thereof extends. Il must be confessed
that Mexican women are less prone 70
vicious gossip than their Northern
cousins; partly, no doubt, because the
social restrictions that environ them
ehectually shut out understanding Of
the evils Of the world; for. 70 their I'M
sullied Imagination. the whole human
family is as guileless as themselves.
Here again the wisdom Of paterfamilias
Is apparent in having excluded current
literature; for a modern newspaper.
with its daily disclosures Of crime and
wickedness. would be rs much OF an eve
opener 10 these gentle creatures as was
Mother Ewes first taste Of " the tree Of
good and evil.
They chat glibly enough. however,
with indescribable animation, and q
thousand graceful gestures, keeping
the hands constantly in motion, as well
as The head and body, and emphasizing
their words with flashing eyes, which
IN one moment can express more vary
ing shades Of emotiOn-love, anger,
hate. jealousy. passion, despair, mirth
happiness the average American
woman can In q lifetime They talk
of the last ball and the coming feasts /;
OF bull-hghts and promenades: Juani-
ta's serenade and Josefa's loves dis
cuss the health and welfare OF mutual
friends, and expatiate upon the merits
and beauties OF their respective child
rem by no means neglecting the
fashions and similar topics, which
the sex, Of whatever nationality, de
lights in.
At4 O'Clock, or whereabouts, is the
conventional time for chocolate, and
callers are pressed TO partake OF the
customary Fefreshment. The light re-
past, which takes the place Of English
I tea, may be served either in the sala
or dining room, and consists merely
Of small cups of chocolate or coffee,
with pan dulce, (tiny loaves Of sweet
ened bread) accompanied, perhaps,
by guaya Jelly or some other sweet
meats
EVENING AAUsENENTs
I Are numerous in Mexico, for there is
no lack Of balls, hestas and private
parties, not to mention the nightly
promenade in the flowery plaza, where
bands play and everybody congregates
10 spend 4 social hour among sweet
scents and sounds These music-ioving
I people are inyeterate theater and opera
goers, and. besides, there are gambling
balls and club-houses and numerous
other resorts for the masculine portion
of the population.
In the capital and other large MeXi-
can cities ii is the correct thing 10 take
a sunset drive on PaseO, or fashionable
/ boulevard. wherS al the wealth. beauty
and elegance u the vicinity daily dis
/ play them selves in purple and fine
: linen. with hewildeFing hutter OF fans
and fash u jewels and gorgeousness
I OF eqnipage.
Mexican mothers are the most affec-
Tomato in the world, invariably sd-
dressing their offspring as mi vida, .
tiny lifel or mi alama," Tiny soul
and attending well TO their moral and
I spiritual condition. But they are sci
dom allowed the privilege Of sucking
{ their infants; that maternal duty be
I INK prohibited BY native physicians a.
3 involving too severe a tax upon the del
icats constitutions OF patrician wives.
I In this land OF cheap labor, where the
serving classes so greatly outnumber
1 those who are able % employ them. Il
/ Is customary 10 engage a new nurse
with the advent Of every child. who
henceforth resides In the family and
has entire care Of her charge TIL the
years IL its childhood are over. For
I the first year Of its existence some
young and healthy Indian woman Is
Z also employed as wetnurse; il being
I popularity believed that in such capacity
/ the sturdy Aztec race are a. superior IN
I the human species as are Jerseys IN
! the bovine Too much cannot be said
/ in praise OF
I MEXICAN CHILDREN.
I In all my long residence hoTe | have
seldom seen a rude or hl-mannerec
I child; their innate politeness appear
Z ing to Sc a. much natural instinct a,
Z the result OF careful training. Upor
I entering a room when company |,
present, even the smallest toddlers vii
( 90 from one 70 another OF the guests
gravely shaking hands with each Will,
submitting 10 the earesses showered
upon them. II you meet a lad IN the
! street. of win 30 his sombrero IN 9
twinkling, while ne makes an obeisanc'
a dancing master might envy. Ever
Z the gamins are famous for politeness
and the raggedest beggar viii acknow
ledge your aims STith the bow OF I
courtier. In moments Of sudden frigh
or distress the mere infant viii eros
himself and murmur, Nalga me
Dies % protect me, God , as dsvouu,
as the Bishop himself.
FASNIE b. WAkn.